Pro-Ownership and Anti-NIMBY laws likely in Queen’s Speech

Government leaks ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech suggest a major planning shake-up is set to stop NIMBY objectors to new homes.

News outlets believed to have been given advance indications of the speech suggest that the aim is to build more homes generally and expand home ownership in areas recently won by the Conservatives.

The planning bill is aimed at expanding the rates of home ownership across small cities and towns in areas which have historically voted Labour.

The reforms will reportedly make it harder for homeowners to block new housing schemes, with the country to be divided into “growth” or “protection” zones.

It is believed automatic planning approval will be given to homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices in growth areas, while development in protected areas will be restricted but not outlawed completely.

However it is unknown whether there will be any incentive for private developers to actually build in those locations.

It is thought that is the former Labour stronghold of Bolsover in Derbyshire - now a Tory constituency but until 2019 represented by left winger Dennis Skinner - will pioneer the First Homes scheme with discounts of at least 30 per cent given to local first-time buyers.

Another measure expected in speech will be the long-awaited Renters Reform Bill, first promised in spring 2019.

This is likely to ban Section 21 evictions, strengthen the Section 8 notice process, create a scheme of ‘lifetime deposits’ for tenants to make it less expensive for renters to move home.